Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-08

elio" -prisone As. Am not down on him
lor any man in Folsom Prison.
captain Nfchsel Paul sworn, testified:
Am turhk' ~ in charge of corridor where
'rlsoners .re kept in solitary confinement.
1unt mas been kept on :" bean table food
nost OF the time, unless otherwise pre-
crlpe9 10y the physician. He has been
'atheo once a week, sometimes oftener.
te fen declined a plunge bath. Last
Day this practice was abolished. when
'ml dt tried to kill one of the other p,is-
mel rs
HUNT KILLED THREE MEN.
Captain. Paul, continuing in reply to
queries of Directors Sonnta.. Filcher and
Devlin, testified: The officers of the night
watch inside the prison building are CAP
tains Fischer and Powell. Make nv re-
ports TO Captains Murphy and Chambers.
Cannot say that the Warden or Captain
Chambers often inspected the solitary con.
hnement cells. Hunt was formerly in cell
1Ss, the middle alley. Once took " Rebel
George with me TO search Hunts cell.
1t was my duty every week or two. In
derstood Hunt had a grocery business in
his cell. Hunt ordered George out of his
cell. Never had personal knowledge, but
know from reliable authority, that Hunt
has killed three men, one in Texas. one in
Arizona, and the third in Los Angeles. [
now consider him a dangerous man, who
would injure any of us ii he had chance.
No convict but " Blueskin ever tried him
since he has been in that corridor. Hunts
cell has been whitewashed ten times in the
past nineteen months.
THE VISITING PHYSICIAN.
DIR. f. G. Durant, the visiting physician,
was sworn and testified Have been at
tached to the prison since 1884. Hunts
physical condition is better now than for a
long time. He had gastric trouble and
chronic indigestion. Have visited him
many times, and my assistant frequently.
Never refused TO attend him. The effect of
the solitary confinement on him has been
to improve his health. The ventilation of
those cells IS better even than the ordinary
cells. Have read paper in all the dun
geons. Ordered change in Hunts food
because | recently thought his diet should
be changed, as he was more feeble and as
he was man of old age. Witness de-
scribed the various degrees of food given
the hospital diet, etc, declaring that no
better bread was made in the State than
these prisoners get. Hunts condition was
better to-day than the first day he came in.
MIR. t1icher-Do you mean to say keep
ing man on limited diet in a badly-yen
tilated, damp dungeon improves his health ?
Witness objected to having his statement
mlslnterpreted, and reiterated his report
on Hunts physical condition. Have re-
peatedly ordered all the prisoners to bathe
every week, but the rule is often violated
by refractory men.
A. Cassidy. the Assistant Turnkey. testi-
ned; Have been employed in the prison
since 1881. He repeated considerable cor
rOh0rafIUn e. .
convict Hunt, saying that Captain Cham.
bers had occasionally visited the solitary
confinement section to inspect the prison.
ers and cells. He did not recollect Warden
McComb ever visiting that department
Have always complied with the prisoners
requests to see the physician. Am in no
way Intimidated in my testimony for fear
of losing my position. Witness regarded
Hunt as a would-be aeitator, dangerous
man, when miDgling with his fellow prison
ers.
HARD CASE.
The next witness placed on the stand was
the convict VIM. Smidt. who attempted
the life of Warden McComb some days ago.
He said: My name is William Smidt. /
was born in Holland, am 80 years of age.
| was convicted of burglary in San Fran
cisco, and sent up for p years. My partner
and stole couple of watches Was in the
Southern penitentiary of Illinois. | was
sentenced TO that prison for five years. L
escaped after being there FIVE months
was captured and returned, when after
three months imprisonment, | again es-
capped. | worked here for about FIVE
months before l was put in solitary. At
the end of nay fifth month I made hole
through my cell and got up under the roof.
where was discovered by guard. / was
then given eighteen days solitary for that.
tried to get to the sky-light that time bat
could not. had worked my way up to
THE MUTTON CHOP TABLE,
But was put back to the bean table. 7
asked Cap.ain Chambers about my work
and was again put in solitary confinement
Tor four months. Was put to work again.
and again placed in solitary confinement
Tor planning an escape with another con-
vet. They discovered the tools in NV
shoes. think Chambers put up Job on
ne, and had the tools made and given to
NE in order to catch me. 4 freeman heard
him say so, and told convict, who told
me. Joe Boisson made the tools. and gave
hem to me. l was examined the next
morning, and the tools discovered where
hey were secreted, between the soles of
my shoes. | have been in solitary since.
Smldt then explained his various az
'empts to escape and his attack on Blue
skin Smith. He said that "Blueskin "
lad threatened to kill him that the prison
was not big enough for both of them.
When he met "Blueskin in the bath he
stabbed him twice and tried to kill him.
de then explained how he made his last
'scape from his cell and his running down
o the Warden's office. He said he carried
THE DAGGER IN HIS HAND
70 frighten the convicts whom he thought
would try to stop his calling on the War
len. He said his cali upon the Warden
vas friendly one. He wanted to state his
iase and be allowed to go TO work again.
ie pooh.poohed the Examiner story about
tat Jacks saving the life of the Warden.
de had no intention of harming hair in
he Generals head. He was little excited
when the General told him to throw up his
lands, and did not obey until the second
ime. This, he said, was altogether owing
o the excitement he was laboring under.
moving that Chambers was coming around
he corner with a shotgun. He regarded
jhambers as a very unscrupulous person,
md imagined that he would take his
Smidts) life If he got an opportunity.
finally Smidt admitted that he had been
reated as well as he had deserved. He
aid =" am to blame for all my trouble.
t | had behaved myself l would have
'een treated as well as the best" He
,egged to be allowed to go TO work again.
,r to be transferred to San Quentin
Deylin-Give Us an idea of how you want
o be treated.
Smidt-Oh, / have no fault to find with
he prison management. Yes, do believe
ny harsh treatment was my own fault. /
ave all the food and clothes need. ALI
Tant IS to go down to the quarry and work.
A CUTE JAIL-BREAKER.
Mr.. Filcher-You admit you are a cute
ail-breaker. Are you ashamed of those
ellis as nechanic2
Smidt-Yes; it's easy to break this
rison. The cells are the weakest part.
he walls are easily opened through. Know
very mans footstep. Know all the keep
rs by their nickname We call Captain
,hambers The Injun." ! think the San
francisco County Jail harder to get out OF
han here. | would like to go to San Osen-
N. Will behave myself if you let me go
} work. Will not fight unless some one
nocks me on the head, get no exercise
ere. Have the boot" a heavy ankle |
on, on NE all the time Can Pick in a |
w seconds any leg or other irons and get !
,ose
Captain Powell. of the night watch, tss- (
he'd as to the treatment oil prisoners un- |
er him, and detailed the circumstances of |
midt,s life while in solitary confinement |
1der him
Captain Chambers, again recalled, gave